GerardButlerisawsome01 this is interesting, however, not evidence to prove the existence of Erik. This was just clever why of writing a short story.

I see you are telling us in a post prior to the last one that Leroux's novel is proof, but in this case, it's not. It's a tool which gives clues to finding the truth. You must present true information which proves Erik was as Leroux said, whether you present evidence of Christine, Raoul, the managers, or the opera house. Wikipedia doesn't count. I'm sorry. Research a little harder, please...

All I've posted can be added as evidence that there was an Opera Ghost. Can you help us find that?

You're right, it is down, it a good thing you got that information, though. I always thought Erik was a de Changy as well. Have you tried researching the individuals above? I'll try and post if I can find anything.

_________________Why read you local newspaper when you could be reading BIOMECHANIC UNDERGROUND?My AIM is SnowMoccasin <---take advantage of it.

I understand that this de Chagny genealogy is in the Genealogy Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a church which I belong to.

I have more info which I will put up. Carrie took down her site because of cost. I don't know if that was the entiretruth.

Back to Erik being a de Chagny; it would explain why Philippe knew the way to the lair. Remember, he didn't come by the trapdoors and secret passages as did Raoul and the Persian. It appears to me that Erik killed him by accident. I assume it all happened before he realized it was Philippe who tripped the alarm.

Yes, I think I have the rest of the article. Last night I was up pretty late trying to find everything. If I recall correctly, there is quite a bit more.

What I've posted so far should give us all enough to research and see what we can find via Internet. Lookback at the records in Peria, or even in their history. Erik was said to be the Shah's political assassin and executioner. Perhaps there is something in their files which mention someone who fits Erik's description. Notjust a physical one, but one with all the skills he possessed, such as architecture, ventriloquism, illusionist, and singer.

Look at the history of how the Garnier was built. Maybe we can find records of the architects who contributed their timeand skills. Food for thought...

After posting the last article, I don't find any comments, so here is some more evidence. Most peoplesay Christine Daae was not the true name of the woman Erik obsessed over and fell in love with. Thepopular assumption is that Christine Nilsson a young Swedish singer of that era was the true lady. But why change her name? If the Phantom's name truly was Erik and the Vicomte a de Chagny, then whywas Christine's name changed? To protect the innocent?

Thanks snowmoccasin. This came from Carrie Hernandez's website before she took it down. Actually, I found it from a link on POTO. So most of the longtime members have already seen this. I printed out everything Carrie had, except for some little things. I am sorry she wasn't able to keep the site up.

Christine Nilsson can be found on other website using a Google search because I found her.

The following is another pic of Christine Nilsson. It looks like an old photo.

Lets take a moment and talk about the infamous Punjab Lasso. The term was never used any where except for Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera. However, after some research, I now submit proof that such a method of strangulation using catgut did originate in India.

In association with his study of Hinduism, Sleeman began to hear rumors of a terrible secret society of Kali worshipers, old as India itself, who practiced ritual murder and the spoliation of travelers. Already in the 17th century, one Th‚venot, a French traveler, had observed: "Though the road I have been speaking of from Delhi to Agra be tolerable, yet hath it many inconveniences . one had best not to suffer any body to come near one on the road. The cunningest robbers in the world are in that country. They use a certain slip with a running noose, which they can cast with so much sleight about a man's neck, when they are within reach of him, that they never fail, so that they strangle him in a trice."

While Europeans have journeyed through the extensive territories subject to the Government of Fort St. George, with a degree of security nowhere surpassed, the path of the native traveller has been beset with perils little known or suspected, into which numbers annually falling, have mysteriously disappeared, the victims of villains as subtle, rapacious and cruel as any who are to be met with in the records of human depravity. The Phansigars, or stranglers, are thus designated from the Hindustani word Phansi a noose. In the more northern parts of India, these murderers are called Thugs, signifying deceivers: in the Tamul language, they are called Ari Tulucar, or Mussulman noosers: in Canarese, Tanti Calleru, implying thieves, who use a wire or cat-gut noose.... Skilled in the arts of deception, Phansigars enter into conversation and insinuate themselves, by obsequious attentions, into the confidence of travellers of all descriptions.... When the Phansigars determine . to attack a traveller, they usually propose to him, under the specious plea of mutual safety or for the sake of society, to travel together . and on arriving at a convenient place and a fit opportunity presenting . one of the gang puts a rope or sash round the neck of the unfortunate persons, while others assist in depriving him of his life.

I think Christine Nillson was beautiful, but, you know, "the eye of the beholder" and whatnot.

Fay, how did you find that article on the Punjab Lasso? I try to dig up as much information on Phantom as possible, but you can hardly find anything reliable anymore and one site says one thing, the other says something totally different. Do you have another reliable source other than Ladyghost, or was it random googling?

_________________Why read you local newspaper when you could be reading BIOMECHANIC UNDERGROUND?My AIM is SnowMoccasin <---take advantage of it.

Actually, ladyghost has not given me any info. I had copied what I could from Carrie Hernandez's site before she took it down.

However, the info on the Punjab Lasso I found on my own by putting in 'methods of strangulation cat-gut' in Google and that's how I found it. The name 'Punjab Lasso' was only used by Leroux. If you notice, there is no name given to the weapon or its use. Still and all, the cat-gut and the method describes Erik's lasso and its use to a tee, don't you think?

The information is on the Internet. We just need to use the correct words to find it.

Thank you for the comments, snowmoccasin.

About Christine's looks, you are right, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.